HIGH SCHOOL ICE HOCKEY: Lawrence locks up CVC Patriot Division crown

WEST WINDSOR — Pat Kelly has been through the tough times at Lawrence High.

The senior forward can recall all too well the narrow losses and the not-so-narrow losses the last three years.

Yesterday, when the Cardinals doubled up Steinert, 8-4 to capture the Colonial Valley Conference Patriot Division those memories were washed away on the rink at Mercer County Park.

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The division crown is Lawrence’s first since the 2007-08 season.

It didn’t come easy as the Spartans (5-12-1, 4-8-1 CVC), who could have tied for the crown with a win, jumped to a 2-0 lead over Lawrence (10-6-1, 6-6-1 CVC) in the first period.

“This means everything,’’ said Kelly, who scored four goals. “This is what we’ve worked for all season. It’s been a goal in the back of our mind each year. This says a lot about our coach (John Ritchie) that we were able to turn things around so fast.’’

The Cardinals turned things around just as fast on the ice after the early Steinert lead.

A Spartans power play goal early in the second made it 3-1. But, three goals in a span of 4:50 saw the Cardinals get on top 4-3. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

Then in the third a three-goal spurt by the Cardinals in a matter of three minutes sealed the win. Lawrence reeled off eight straight before Steinert got the final goal of the game.

Besides Kelly’s four with an assist, Corey Zrinko added a hat trick with a pair of assists, Brian Reznikov had a goal and three assists and Brian Niemirka had an assist.

“This means a lot to the boys,’’ said Lawrence’s Ritchie. “When you are one of these teams that have been down on their luck the last couple years it means a lot. For the seniors it means a lot to say they have accomplished this much senior year.’’

Steinert, who won the Patriot Division last year, stayed within a goal heading to the third.

“We played good enough in the first two period to get pucks in the net,’’ said Steinert coach Ryan DeClerico. “But, we let up too many goals right after we scored. There were a lot of goal-mouth scrambles that they were able to put back in the net.’’

Lawrence has stayed the course throughout the year with the system implemented by Ritchie. It’s one that allows the Cardinals to stay patient throughout and pounce on the opportunities.

“The systems give it that appearance that we are steady and not really doing too much,’’ said Ritchie. “But, we have to be opportunistic. We don’t get that many chances we have to make the most of them.’’

Despite the score the Cardinals stayed calm and eventually got their chances.

“When we were down we just never stopped playing,’’ said Zrinko. “Then we get up and we never stop. We know one goal lead is nothing in this league. Goals are scored in no time here.’’

This is definitely Lawrence’s time.

It’s been a five-year drought between division championships and hoisting a banner will erase a lot of tough losses.